Gruden sympathy: ESPN broadcaster and former Super Bowl-winning coach Jon Gruden, while watching the Eagles build a big lead over the Redskins on Monday night, said Chip Kelly’s fast-paced offense and quirky formations will make preparing for Philadelphia an extreme challenge. “I pity the San Diego Chargers. They get a short week,” Gruden said.

Skeptical experts: Kelly, 49, never coached in the NFL before taking over the Eagles last winter. He’d gone 46-7 the previous five seasons directing Oregon. The Ducks featured a spread, no-huddle offense that averaged an NCAA-best 44.7 points and six yards per rush over the five years. At Oregon, Kelly had about 25 more players on his roster than he does now, and, given how fast his Ducks played, ex-NFL players and coaches have questioned whether he can cope with the smaller roster and lengthier season. Five of the six ex-players on ESPN’s panel predicted the Eagles to lose to the Redskins. Only Trent Dilfer got it right.

Chargers at Eagles, 9/15/13

Hurry up: Building a 19-point lead (the final score was 33-27), the Eagles fired off 53 snaps in the first half -- the most in a half since the Vikings took 56 snaps in 1998. On both sides the Eagles played faster than the Redskins, who seemed confused for most of the first quarter. But the half was also a perfect storm for increasing a snap total. The Eagles had consecutive long drives sandwiched around a lateral that the Redskins returned for a touchdown. Philadelphia’s defense also created two turnovers, and Redskins running back Alfred Morris, off an imprecise pitch from rusty Robert Griffith III, fumbled in the end zone for a safety.

So far, so good: Michael Vick threw for 203 yards and two TDs (112.6 passer rating) and added 45 yards and a TD on the ground. The 33-year-old ran past Redskins defenders, some of them defensive backs. On many plays, Vick had at least three options: a quick screen, a handoff or a keeper. “We want to keep them guessing and make sure they come to play,” he said.

Speed breeds speed: The fast pace seemed to accentuate the Eagles' fastest player, wide receiver DeSean Jackson. A true burner, Jackson caught seven passes for 104 yards and scored the first touchdown. Also, the threat of quick screens to Jackson opened up other options for Vick. Tight end Brent Celek runs well, too. His 28-yard reception was the team’s longest of the night.

Off and running: The strength of Kelly’s Oregon offense was the running game, and in LeSean McCoy, the coach inherited a quick, fast back who also can leap over tacklers. Against the Redskins, McCoy (5-foot-11, 208) ran for a league-best 184 yards. He was in and out of the lineup to catch his breath but carried a career-high 31 times.

Vulnerable?: The Redskins began making a game of it when their linebackers blitzed through large holes. When Vick refused to slide on runs downfield, Redskins defenders hit the often-injured, 6-foot, 215-pounder, who only once in 11 seasons started all 16 games. Washington also made contact with him after he carried out fakes on the zone-read option. Asked if the Chargers will use those occasions to clock Vick, linebacker Donald Butler said, “We’ll see. You going to pay my fine for me?”

Conversion: The Eagles overhauled a defense that gave up the most TD passes in the NFL last year and finished 29th in points allowed. Several defensive backs are newcomers, led by boisterous ex-Ravens corner Cary Williams, who picked off a Griffin flotater. Up front, the conversion to a 3-4 scheme moved end Trent Cole to outside linebacker. He looked comfortable against the Redskins. In all, the Eagles had three sacks and held Washington to 2 of 10 on third downs.

Trending: The Chargers are 7.5-point underdogs, matching their two biggest spreads as an underdog last year (at Denver, where they lost; and at Pittsburgh, where they won in their most recent trip to Pennsylvania).